Long Pond dad gets up to 3 years in jail in DUI death of toddler

In a proceeding marked by tears and pleas for leniency, Christopher Thomas was sentenced Tuesday after admitting he was drunk when he caused a crash that killed his young son in late 2011.

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By DAVID KIDWELL

poconorecord.com

By DAVID KIDWELL

Posted Jan. 23, 2013 at 12:01 AM

By DAVID KIDWELL

Posted Jan. 23, 2013 at 12:01 AM

» Social News

In a proceeding marked by tears and pleas for leniency, Christopher Thomas was sentenced Tuesday after admitting he was drunk when he caused a crash that killed his young son in late 2011.

Judge Jonathan Mark said Thomas, 23, will spend 15 to 36 months in jail after he pleaded guilty to homicide by vehicle, driving under the influence and filing false reports.

Killed was Dimitrius Thomas, who was 16 months old when Thomas turned into the path of an oncoming car on Route 611 in Tannersville on Dec. 10, 2011.

The standard sentencing guideline called for a 15-36 month sentence for the homicide by vehicle conviction. Mark said the sentences for all three charges will run concurrently, which means Thomas will serve at least 15 months in jail. He was credited for time served of one year — the amount of time he has been in the Monroe County Correctional Facility since shortly after the crash.

Michael Regenye, who was driving the car that plowed into Thomas' 2004 Nissan Sentra, said the wreck has devastated his family.

While he told Thomas he forgave him, he also said Thomas acted cowardly and abandoned his critically injured son after the wreck.

Thomas admitted days after the wreck that he first told police he was not in the car when the crash occurred. He also admitted he told his 16-year-old passenger to tell police she was driving at the time of the wreck.

When he had his chance to speak to the judge, Thomas choked up and said he took full responsibility for his son's death.

"I'm truly sorry for everything I have done. My actions were inexcusable and very cowardly," he said.

Mark said while he believes Thomas will work hard to improve his standing in life after jail, he said: "This is a horrible, horrible and horrific situation."

Thomas, a former football star at Stroudsburg High School and the Pocono Record's 2007 Football Player of the Year, will be eligible for parole shortly.

Thomas' attorney, James Swetz, said he and his client were pleased with the sentence. "He is going to have to live with this the rest of his life," he said.